3 Possible Reasons Your Dog Is Afraid Of Thunder

Possible Reasons Your Dog Is Afraid Of Thunder

Summer Showers, pt 1: 3

by: Neil Kilgore

The darkening on the horizon, the clouds swelling over head, the smell of rain, and the streaks of light across the sky. Thunderstorms tend to make a lot of people ‘ooh’ and ‘ahh’ over the impressive display of nature’s power. However, while you might be grabbing a window seat to enjoy the show, your dog might be frantically searching for cover. There are a number of dogs who get the shivers when the thunder starts to rumble in the sky. It causes them to shrink, run, and try to hide behind whatever will dampen the noise. But why are they afraid? Well, here are a few possible reasons for why your dog fears thunder.

Never Been Exposed to It

Often times, when your dog is afraid of thunder, it’s because of the lack of exposure, which can cause panic and fear. When it comes to thunder, it can be terrifying to hear something so big and loud, especially when there is no way for them to understand what it is. Lack of exposure to thunder and other loud noises can often trigger a panic response in puppies and juveniles which will cause them to flee at the sound.

In these cases, it’s important that you make your dog feel safe and secure during this time. Attempt to distract your dog by playing their favorite game, especially during their first few storms, and you might be able to keep their fear from turning into a lifelong phobia.

The Sound

Just the sound of thunder in and of itself can be scary for your dog, especially when you get the loud, booming, cracks of thunder. Remember, a dog’s hearing is exponentially better than yours so when it comes to these loud noises, not only is it scary but it can even be painful for dogs. During this time, try playing the radio or turning the volume up on the television which can help create a distraction from the sound and make it a little more bearable for your dog.

Past Trauma

This is unfortunate, but isn’t unheard of, especially for rescue dogs, but sometimes your dog might have experienced some trauma in their life which makes thunder particularly frightening. It can be heart wrenching to think about, but the truth of the matter is, there are some bad people out there who don’t understand what it means to love a dog. While there may be little more you can for your dog other than ride out the storm, some love and affection after the fact can go a very long way.

Image: Author Owned

When it comes to handling thunderstorms, your dog is going to do what it does. Typically there are one of two outlets for your dog’s anxiety which is either escapism or destructive behavior. Provide your dog with a safe place to hide and don’t punish them for being afraid and you’ll find that you can make it through the storm with less issue. Finding other, non-frightening things for your dog to associate with instead of the fear of thunder can also help in easing the summer shower panic attack. Above all, be patient and loving, while it might be frustrating when your dog makes a mad dash for the bathroom, you have to remember that this storm, too, shall pass.

2 thoughts on “3 Possible Reasons Your Dog Is Afraid Of Thunder”

Thank you for these tips! My puppies are scared of thunder, they are even scared of the banging noise of doors. I tried to play calming music for them and it did help, eventually getting rid of the “banging” noise fear. Now that they are over 9 months old, the sound of thunder doesn’t bother them anymore. What’s weird is they get even more excited / hyped up, and that I cannot explain.

Jeanne Melanson is just an ordinary gal from Nova Scotia, now living in Michigan.

Her animal family has included 13 Alpine Goats, 40 Chickens, 20 Turkeys, 3 Vietnamese Pot Bellied Pigs, a number of Turtles, 2 Raccoons, 1 Opossum , her share of Cats and Dogs, and a Bearded Dragon named Shirley.